Stop! Look! Listen!
“Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.”
There is an old Scott Peck quote that I appreciate: “The greatest gift of love is to pay attention to them.” Peck’s quote is profound when discussing marriage, raising children, one’s career, and especially faith. In our fractured and noisy world, it is more challenging to achieve the focus necessary to accomplish anything, let alone have the energy to concentrate on our spouse, children, and our faith.
Our focus determines what and who we value. Reflecting on my life, one of my regrets is that I often focused so much on ministry that it came at the expense of my family. You cannot go back in time, but you can make amends by making better choices moving forward.
A helpful way to focus your energy and reorganize your priorities is to follow a three-word process. Stop! Look! Listen! The more frequently you practice these three steps, the more proficient you will become, and the more fulfilled you will feel. When you notice yourself rushed and out of sync, stop and breathe. The act of stopping and taking an intentional deep breath is an act of surrender. It is like a mental reset. Then, look by focusing on something that fills you with gratitude. The act of looking allows you to reaffirm what you genuinely value. Finally, you listen. Listen to yourself and what you are thinking and feeling. Your brain is trying to help you. Then, listen for God’s guidance as you seek to adjust your thoughts and actions.
There are a couple of key words in your Stop, Look, and Listen process. The first word is “intentional.” You cannot expect to one day wake up and be a focused person. You need to be intentional and work through the process. The second keyword is “habit.” Learning to stop, look, and listen is not a natural part of your day. Yet, the more you practice, the more the process becomes a positive habit in your life. Soon, your relationships with others and God will become stronger and more meaningful, because you will redirect your focus to what has lasting importance. Get started on your habit and watch your life grow ever more gratifying.
